Yup, lost count of the amount of times we had to take the bags we had loaded off, as Storm tried - and failed - to coax the knackers back to life. Dreadful, ex-Wizz, more chewing gum than actual carpet on the floor. They had the cheek to ask us to "deep clean them" before they were returned. They were cleaner with us after a week than they probably were for the preceding 5 years.

I felt very sorry for the Storm Aviation lads I spoke within the smoking areas, none would - or could - guarantee that any particular frame was likely leave the tarmac the next day. So the usual palaver would play out - send bags to an aircraft, send a ramp team, load it, often wait for a crew to turn up, often be advised it's declared "gone tech", remove passengers, remove bags, tow it to the 230 stands waiting for repair.

The hours, and staff, lost by this charade caused a landslide of other delayed/cancelled easyJet flights from LGW in 2022.

'Twas a pretty horrible time. I would, however, point out that when I was advised that we would have SLX, I said to the easyJet bloke "Oh my" although I used far coarser language.

Probably you forgot to mention that Storm is owned by the same group as SLX and Avion, so they must be the same bad?

I checked their site and ask 500 hours on A320.
Does anyone know if they offer ( them or someone who cooperates with them) any package with these hours?
I currently fly the ATR and I want to move to jets
Thanks in advance

A320 autumn 2024
 

Anyone here who is starting autumn course on a320 this year? Let’s connect and get to know each other before course starts

Starting TR course you mean? Supposed to already have 500 hours on type. Please share the information of how joining without the type

Yes joining TR course autumn group.

After TR
 

I’ve recently been in touch with a guy who has done his TR with Smartlynx one year ago (December 2022). He still hasn’t flown anything since the base training. The airline doesn’t have capacity to start students on the line training. So it’s a huge number of students waiting in line to get started with the line training.
I am about to start my TR in October. But after talking to the guy waiting, I’m not sure if it’s smart to invest so much money in a company where you are guaranteed job, but it might take years to get that job. 36000€ is a lot to gamble.
And the paid is pretty bad during the line training I’ve heard, which I had accepted it. But waiting one year to start flying? That’s just unacceptable.
Is anyone in that situation? Could someone explain a bit more on it?

Anyone knows if Smartlynx has started recruitment again. How is it to work with them as a A320 Captain. What bases can I expect?

smartlynx is the cancer of aviation.

Do you think you can elaborate a little bit more. Why did you have a bad experience there.

Please tell me an airline that is good. All airlines now after the COVID have found an excuse to reduce their terms and conditions and I am afraid that the current geopolitical situation will make it even worse for us. When I was an F.O 10 years ago, I was making more money then I do now as a captain and on top of that prices have tripled (inflation).

absolutely correct, the salaries didn’t increase at all the last 15 years.
Too many pilots, job is too easy nowadays. Every one can become a pilot.

How is it to work for Smartlynx at the moment?

Hi, I was selected for A320 with Smartlynx, any important information that you can share?

SmartLynx always finds people despite the conditions. Why?
Because the "Take home" pay is on par with BA or Lufthansa pilots. (That's the real attraction and don't kid yourselves otherwise!)

Apparently, this winter, they go back to winter fee.

Until the tax man comes knocking, or people realize you have to pay taxes

That's the thing... He never comes knocking in Spain, Italy and Greece :ok:

How much exactly is the winter pay?

As far as I was told, summer 310€ daily fee and winter 260€ daily fee. Stand to be corrected, of course, as this is not first hand info.
Pilots still have to take up to 60 days unpaid leave in the winter?

You are misinformed. In Italy they come, hard, and with no lube

Many financial institutions across Europe are aware of how the contracts of Avia Solution Group airlines (such as Smartlynx, Avion Express, Klasjet) operate via Dubai-based AerViva or other companies. Some institutions are specifically monitoring the tax (non)payment of their pilots and cabin crews. Sooner or later, this will have consequences. Avoiding mandatory tax payments is short-sighted; unfortunately, those working for these types of airlines are often not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

Watch out, in Italy they will come, maybe even after 5,6,7 years. Once they come, as dirk85 said, there will be no lube but there will be sand.

They will also go after you in Spain

Be warned, SLX is the lowest common denominator. Only join if you are desperate, then only stay long enough to find another job.

Can you please elaborate a bit more on why we should stay away?

Do they pay on time? Are the hotels good? Rostering? How much exactly is the salary during winter?

To elaborate, no. Avoid them if you can go anywhere else. Why?
1 - The company has refused to pay the annual bonus on time to the pilots - citing an administration error! Many of us were counting on it being paid due to the reduction in pay over the winter. They have refused to make an expeditious payment - after all a bank run is electronic and instant. Instead we are still waiting.
2 - Pay has been forcibly reduced for winter contracts simply because it is winter. We are flying the same schedule but on around 1000-2000 Euro less per month depending on whether you are FO or Capt.
3 - The maintenance condition of the fleet is shocking, especially the A320/A321. As a result the company has lost all European contracts. TUI have ended its contract with Smartlynx in UK and Europe.
4 - Roster in other bases is 6/7-1, operating back to back nightflights inside Turkey. Not often that you get an external flight as Ajet do not want Smartlynx to got AOG and cost it even more in delays.
5- On the basics that affect quality of life and contracts, you have no control over anything. Any problem "downroute" is the responsibility of the charterer, ie Ajet, Indidigo etc. HO in Riga take no interest in solving problems which caused the loss of other work including the A330 fleet.
6- Hotels in Turkey for the Ajet contracts have no crew room or facilities to prep your own food, or meet colleagues. Therefore every meal must be bought and it is expensive.
7 -Company has broken their promise to the A330 pilots to maintain their rating whilst on secondment to the A320 fleet, despite being in writing. Others have been let go despite having a valid A320 rating and EASA licence, while the company keeps flying in pilots from South America.
8- Standards on Airbus are very low, as are levels of English amongst some crew. Lack of basic knowledge of Airbus SOP and operating has meant many of them carrying out proscribed approaches into potentially dangeous airfields.

They have attempted to put some pilots on a 6 week contract to pay tax but lost work because they could not fulfill this. Despite all the tax authorities now looking closely at Smartlynx in Europe, they will insist on more temporary contracts where necessary meaning you move between contractor and employed status. This will not work in Europe any more hence move to india,

thanks for the info !
Does anyone know how do you end a contract with them ? Especially knowing that even if you paid your type rating you « have to pay » a 10k€ fee in case you leave this crazy Airline during the 1st year after your Line Check.

Can someone please tell me when does the "Summer period start" with the new salary system? Is it Mars - Oct? How many hours per month do you fly during winter?

Been there, done that.

All true, avoid this cancer at all cost.

In a meeting with pilots yesterday they announced a new contract which we "have" to sign.

1-If you go Fatigued - 50% pay deduction for each fatigue day
2 -30/15 roster mandatory for all bases outside Europe/Turkey
3- Company seem to have illegally made deductions from the annual bonus. The new contract has a large clause that allows them to deduct for every ground duty, sick day or day you are not flying. They are relying on this to deduct from everyone this year, despite it not being in the contract. Basically as soon as somebody writes a new rule in Riga, they all follow it, whether it is legal, contractual or safe.
Expect a large number not to sign the new contract.

No mention of any summer flying program really for anything other than 737 fleet. Winter is Nov-March inc.
Flying hours can vary by base and project. It is very hard to get over 50-60 hours in Istanbul due to mainly being short internal flights. You will never get near the 70BLH limit for extra pay unless your are an LTC.

"thanks for the info !
Does anyone know how do you end a contract with them ? Especially knowing that even if you paid your type rating you « have to pay » a 10k€ fee in case you leave this crazy Airline during the 1st year after your Line Check."
No, check your contract and which agency issued it. Aerviva insists on a 4000Euro deduction if you leave within 4 months of an LPC/OPC. Pretty hard to avoid that, but consider they owe r you far more most of the time.

Thank you for the info.

I did not know that smart-Lynx gives any bonus. On PPJN is says only 8000 euros during winter and 9500 euros during summer. Is this bonus separate from the salary?

It is a contracted bonus, which says it will be paid if you work over the summer season between certain months. But they have changed the wording to allow them to deduct as much as they want.

Guys come one, everybody know how this company is. Everybody know Avia Solution Group companies. It was long discussed here. Nothing will change, nothing has change in the past. If this not fit just look for other jobs, there are still plenty of them outside.

Actually, you're not right. Things are changing, but for the worse. This company only serves as a way for younger pilots to build some flight hours or for older ones to maintain recency, and that's it. The only question is who can endure such treatment and humiliation.
It seems they haven’t learned their lesson from early 2022, and it’s a wonder they even still exist. Frankly, they’ve hit such rock bottom that they’re hardly worth mentioning.

Unfortunately, they must be addressed because they jeopardize both their own safety and that of others.

No no I was not talking about the bonus SmartLynx is giving you, but about the penalty YOU have to pay to SmartLynx after your Line Check, they call it « Contractual penalty ». Is really someone paying these huge amounts ?

dumblynx is part of that russian-mafia-laundering-tool called aviasolutions...made of criminals, drug addicted (see ex dumblynx CEO, zigymantas, kicked out of company because coke issues...now working on a web-based food company) and incompetent latvians that are not able to pass selections anywhere else.
As said many times, stay away from this cancer.

Very easy. You wait for your last payroll to be sent and then the very next day you return all company property in person or by mail. You walk away. Block all communications and any that do get through, you ignore and delete. Move on to a nice job elsewhere - the job market favours the pilot at this time, NOT the employer. Take full advantage while you can as employers always do on the downturn. Do not worry about references as these type of clown outfits are very well known in the industry.

Is the safety really that bad? Why doesn't the captains take responsibility and fly according to MEL and SOP?

If a Captain grounds an aircraft because of MEL, will he get reprimanded by the company?

When discussing monthly earnings, it’s almost never what is stated in the contract because the company will find any way to reduce the amount. For example, they won’t reimburse your Uber expenses because you didn’t get prior approval from the Travel Department, and you didn’t get approval because no one from that department answers calls or messages.

Here’s another scenario: A first officer, new to the company, is assigned a Standby 3 duty, which lasts until 10:00 AM. However, his flight home departs at 12:00 AM from Istanbul’s New Airport, meaning he must leave Sabiha Gökçen Airport no later than 9:00 AM. In a cunning and highly unethical move, Operations calls him for a flight at, say, 9:30 AM. The first officer explains that he’s on his way home for the 12:00 AM flight, but Operations responds that his standby duty ends at 10:00 AM.

The result? The first officer’s day is not paid, he’s fined an additional €100 for “disrupting operations,” and he loses the first part of his bonus.

And now you ask, "What is the salary?"
The salary is whatever remains after they’ve robbed you.

The latest scheme involves reducing the loyalty bonus. For example, if you complete your line training in June and start flying in July, you’ll receive your full bonus (if you manage to stay) until the end of October.

However, if you’re a long-term employee (let's say more than a year) and you’ve been just a while on sick leave, taken special leave days due to a spouse’s or parent’s illness, or had to deal with a death in the family, a (huge) portion of your bonus will be deducted.

During these days off, you were not paid at all, yet the company will still dig into your pocket to punish you for daring to take such time off.

I don’t need to explain how inhumane, unethical, and malicious this is, especially when the management constantly preaches about their concern for your "well-being."

Now, again, ask "How much is the bonus paid?".

When it comes to safety, it is truly remarkable how loyal pilots are, first and foremost, to their profession. Many colleagues go above and beyond to ensure the job gets done. However, these efforts go entirely unappreciated. Fatigue is the company's biggest issue. There are pilots who enjoy preferential treatment, flying only during the day, while others are assigned exclusively to night shifts. The submission of fatigue reports is closely monitored, and with the new contract, the company has introduced an internal control system to scrutinize each individual fatigue case. This measure, however, is not aimed at improving rostering but rather serves as an additional pressure on pilots.

Just wanted to ask if it's true that Smart-Lynx is transporting radioactive material as cargo for some flights in India. I noticed also on their application form that they are asking about pilots yearly accumulated radiation levels.

Anyway I recently passed their assessment but I don't think I will join due to the health risks.. Most likely they will put me to fly in either Nigeria which is a very high risk zone for Malaria or I will fly in India with radio active material. No thanks.